In honor of our late cousin Tim, I wanted to carry his birthday card legacy alive and well —armed with a spreadsheet, stamps, and a stack of Trader Joe’s finest $1 cards. In this episode, I share the surprisingly simple system that keeps me organized, why the little act of sending a card matters more than you think, and how you can keep the kindness ripple going in your own mailbox. Because maybe we all need a little less scrolling and a little more postage stamps.

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We're talking all about starting solids with sanity for babies around six to twelve months, sharing raw and honest approaches without losing your mind during this beautiful yet messy period of development.

• Most nutrition from birth to 12 months comes from milk/formula - solid foods are just a bonus
• Starting with simple whole foods like blueberries, bananas, and avocados requires minimal prep
• Balance both baby-led weaning for independence and purees for added nutrition
• Constipation challenges are normal - pears, prunes and peaches help get things moving
• Sanity-saving supplies: silicone bibs with catchers, easy-clean high chairs, and freezing homemade purees
• Feed babies in just a diaper to avoid constant outfit changes
• The "decoy spoon" trick: give baby a spoon to hold while using another to feed them
• Expose babies to family meals when possible but have backup options ready
• Give yourself grace - some days will be homemade purees, some days will be Cheerios

Just remember this challenging phase is temporary but meaningful - we're teaching our children that food is colorful, fun and nourishing.

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In this episode, I’m sharing my top picks for summer reading in 2025, from literary fiction and psychological thrillers to gripping dystopian tales. I also have a special selection for children ages 4-7, if you're planning on taking any family roadtrips, these would make excellent audiobooks! 

Read along with me this summer! Summer 2025 List: 

1. These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant 
2. The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton 
3. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett 
4. Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli 
5. The Wedding People by Alison Espach 
6. The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding 
7. The Quiet Tenant by Clemance Michallon 
8. Long Bright River by Liz Moore 
9. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 
10. Don’t Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

Four Children's Books (ages ~4 to 7 years old)

1. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 
2. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo 
3. Pax  by Sara Pennypacker 
4. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

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After a week of sickness, missed routines, and general chaos, getting back on track can feel overwhelming. In this gentle, honest episode, I share what it looks like to reset slowly—without pressure or perfection. From freezer meals and fresh bedsheets to spiritual grounding and small acts of beauty, this is an invitation to begin again with compassion. Whether you’re coming off a lost week or just craving a softer reentry into daily life, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to bounce back all at once.

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Welcome to Installment #6 of What We Ate This Week, how I prepped and what I spent! This was a lovely and smooth week filled with simple meals, lots of grilling, and zero food waste. The grand total for the 6 of us was $250+ for two Trader Joes trips and a super quick Costco run. 

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This week, we're diving into God of the Woods, a gripping literary mystery set in the Adirondacks. With shifting timelines, vivid imagery, and rich character work, Liz Moore weaves a haunting story of family secrets and long-buried truths. Stay tuned through the end for a spoiler segment and one big lingering question.

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If you flinch every time someone asks “What’s for dinner?”—you’re not alone. In this episode, we unpack why that one simple question feels so loaded, especially for moms juggling the mental load. I share real talk on meal planning stress, emotional exhaustion, and why the timing of that question makes it feel like a personal attack. Plus, I offer practical tips (and a little humor) to make dinner planning just a little easier.

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I’ve really noticed a difference in how much less overwhelmed I feel. The best part? I’m not trying to keep everything in my head anymore. If you’re anything like me, that mental load can get heavy. But having this simple, month-by-month reference has made it so much easier to keep everything on track.

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1. Baby #1 Birth Story — Episode #41
2. Baby #2 Birth Story — Episode #42
3. Baby #3 Birth Story — Episode #92
4. Baby #4 Birth Story — Episode #146

Practical Resources:

1. The Mama Natural by Genevieve Howland
2. Ina Mya's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

Pro Tips: 

• Ask for Natera's self-pay option - $250
• Fresh Test for alternative glucose screenings (non-GMO, gluten free, artificial flavoring free, dye free, BPA free and preservative free)

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Five Overrated Books I've Read Recently: 

1. A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
2. The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
3. The Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
4. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
5. We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

PS. The new to us children’s book we loved: Truman by Jean Reidy

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Outdoor Spring Activities with Kids

1. Nature Walks: Around the neighborhood, a new to you trail, or park
2. Staring a Simple Gardening
3. Picnics, try one in your own backyard! 
4. Exploring New-to-You Playgrounds / Parks / Trails 
5. Biking + Walking + Scootering around the neighborhood
6. Outdoor Art Projects (using chalk, grass, flowers, rocks, & sticks)
7. Bird Watching -- so fun!

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So much to love with this novel, however the ending was terrible that made so little sense. 

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Mindfulness Practices Motherhood This Spring:

1. Evening cup of tea
2. Daily gratitude journaling
3. Moment of mindfulness in the mornings
4. Phone-free time challenge
5. Mindful listening 

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I tracked all my 20204 impulse purchases on Amazon and Target. Here are the things I loved, and worked out super well, in addition to all the things I deeply regret. 

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Peaks and Valleys: Making Good and Bad Times Work for You by Spencer Johnson

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Oh boy, this book left me very underwhelmed, which was a bit disappointing from a Liane Moriarty book! Here's why... 

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1. Starting the day with an empty dishwasher. This typically happens the night before, it’s the last thing my husband does before coming up stairs for bed. 
2. The daily load of laundry, ideally started first thing in the morning
3. A shower. Doesn’t happen everyday, at this point
4. 10-15 minutes of weights and or a 30+ minute stroller walk
5. One small home task, like vacuuming a room, or wiping down the bathroom, organizing a drawer, etc. 
6. A clean kitchen after breakfast + a home reset before leaving the house
7. Dinner prep while my kids eat lunch
8. Reseting the coffee maker for the next day
9. Another home reset during post-lunch nap / quiet time
10.  Rest in bed while kids are napping / doing quiet time. 
11. Putting together a snack plate for my kids before my daughter gets home from school
12.  Resetting school backpacks 
13. Putting away the load of laundry from the morning
14. Getting a healthy and delicious home cooked meal on the table
15. Durning down the home for the night by shutting blinds, taking out the trash, starting the dishwasher

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Welcome to Installment #5 of WWATW, how I prepped and what I spent! This was an unusual week for us, as we had two epic snowstorms, so grocery shopping and meal planning were very much fly by night. We did manage to get groceries mid-week and the grand total for the 6 of us was $228 at Trader Joes. 

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A very daunting, but totally doable task! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you tackle this beast in bite sized chunks:

1. Upload and sort all photos from your phone, digital camera, USBs, etc. to an external hard drive (I have this one 1T External Hard Drive). Go slowly, month by month, year by year. 
2. From there, delete excess from your phone, digital camera, USBs, etc.
3. Pick out favorites from each event / year — Upload to DropBox, Google Drive, Amazon Photos as a 3rd back-up choice
4. Print physical copies of favorite photos (mPix is a great place!), and update photo frames around house
5. Order photo boxes for each child, and fill them as the years by by
6. Finally order 2024 Book -- Episode #49 How to Curate a Family Yearbook
7. Another item I've been negligent on are baby books, so that's getting added to this projects list! 

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Each of these were quite enjoyable! 

1. That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally 
2. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera 
3. The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak 

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The most important piece of the puzzle for 2 Under 2 is grace and patience for yourself. You're doing great, this is a very challenging season of life! Second, here are a few past episodes that will help get your home squared away, because life is hard enough:

• #45: A Simple Laundry Routine
• #37: A Simple Cleaning Schedule Throughout the Week
• #36: Simple Meal Prepping Throughout the Week
• #113: Simple Everyday Habits for the SAHM
• #98: 10 Rules for Getting Things Done in Busy Seasons
• #72: Finding Time to Exercise Surrounded by Little Screaming People
• #74: A Consistent Bedtime Routine for Moms

Book resource: How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7

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1. Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
2. How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A survival guide to life with children ages 2-7 by Joanna Faber
3. The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children by Wendy Motel
4. The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children by Shefali Tsabary
5. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by Comer, John Mark *
6. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Tolle, Eckhart
7. You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Murphy, Kate *
8. 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
9. Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay Gibson
10. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

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Some ideas for planning out 2025 during this slower week, the last week of the year: 

1. Digital Declutter
   • phone
   • email
   • laptop
   • photos
2. Closet Cleanout
3. Unsubscribing to Junkmail
4. Writing out Goals for 2025
5. Moving into new 2025 planner
6. Reviewing finances from this past year
7. A new plant!

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